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Directions and Planes

This document discusses directions and planes in crystal structures. It introduces notation for labeling directions as [uvw] and planes as (hkl). Important properties for cubic crystal systems are derived, including that the [hkl] direction is perpendicular to the (hkl) plane, and the spacing d between adjacent planes can be calculated as a/√(h2+k2+l2) where a is the lattice constant. The document covers labeling directions and planes, important notation, and equations that are specific to cubic crystal systems.

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62 views23 pages

Directions and Planes

This document discusses directions and planes in crystal structures. It introduces notation for labeling directions as [uvw] and planes as (hkl). Important properties for cubic crystal systems are derived, including that the [hkl] direction is perpendicular to the (hkl) plane, and the spacing d between adjacent planes can be calculated as a/√(h2+k2+l2) where a is the lattice constant. The document covers labeling directions and planes, important notation, and equations that are specific to cubic crystal systems.

Uploaded by

buddlightbeerlog
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Intro to Solid State Physics

Dr Andy Higginbotham
Lecture 2 - 2015/16
Recap - Structure

• Lattices are a purely mathematical concept describing


translational symmetries

• Represented by basis vectors

• Can be defined by a unit cell, which may be primitive or


conventional

• Only certain (Bravais) lattices are allowed in 3d

• To create a structure, the lattice is convolved with a basis


This lecture - Directions and Planes

• Define Lattice Directions and Planes

• Introduce the notation used to identify them

• Derive some important equations for cubic crystal


systems
Crystallographic
Directions
• Material properties depend on
structure

• If structure has low symmetry,


this means material properties
can be directionally dependent

• Important to be able to label


directions in crystals
Lattice Vectors

• Define our lattice in terms of three basis vectors, a1, a2


and a3.

• Any lattice vector, ua1+va2+wa3 can be written in terms


of the basis vectors as [uvw]
Notation

• Directions are written using a square bracket notation.

• Example : the vector a1+a2+2a3 is written as [112].

• Negative indices are indicated by a bar over the index.

• Example : the vector a1+a2-2a3 is written as [112̅].

• We always use the lowest integers indices possible

• Example : the vector 2a1+2a2+2a3 is written as [111],


NOT [222].
Test

What Direction is this?

a3

a2
a1
Test

What Direction is this?

a3

a2
a1
Test

What Direction is this?

a3

a2
a1

1/2
Planes

• Atoms in regular structures fall naturally on sets of planes

• We will find out that these planes are very important for
many aspects of solid state physics
Planes

• Atoms in regular structures fall naturally on sets of planes

• We will find out that these planes are very important for
many aspects of solid state physics
Planes

• Atoms in regular structures fall naturally on sets of planes

• We will find out that these planes are very important for
many aspects of solid state physics
Planes

• Atoms in regular structures fall naturally on sets of planes

• We will find out that these planes are very important for
many aspects of solid state physics
Labelling of Planes

• Define our plane in terms of where it intercepts the lattice


vectors

O
Notation

• Planes are written using a round bracket notation, i.e.


(hkl)

• Negative indices are indicated by a bar over the index.

• Needn’t be the lowest integers…


Test

What Plane is this?


Test

What Plane is this?


Test

What Plane is this?


The effect of symmetry

• You may see directions denoted using angle brackets


(i.e. <uvw>) or planes denoted with curly brackets (i.e.
{hkl}).

• This is an additional notation with arises due to some


directions/planes being indistinguishable from others due
to symmetry
Example

(100)

{100}

(010)
Derivations for Cubic Crystals

• Relation between planes and directions

Direction [hkl] is perpendicular to the plane (hkl)

• Spacing, d, between adjacent planes

a
d= p
h2 + k 2 + l 2
One final point…
• So far in this course we have
been discussing single crystals

• Materials also exist as


polycrystals

• Some materials are not even


crystalline…
Summary

• We have defined directions and planes

• We have a notation for direction [uvw] and planes (hkl)

• For cubic systems -

• The [hkl] direction and (hkl) plane are perpendicular

• The spacing between planes is


a
d= p
h2 + k 2 + l 2

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